Carbon Footprint of Waste-Derived Composites

Abstract

The modern world is facing unprecedented population growth and increasing demand for consumer goods which, in turn, causes a demand for an increasing supply of materials. At the same time, technological advancement has enabled the development of novel materials suitable for a wide range of applications. Composites are a great example of such materials because they can be produced from feedstock which is not suitable for other applications, such as waste. A substantial body of research has been conducted exploring various industrial and municipal waste streams. Composite matrices can be made of low-quality recycled plastic originating from construction and demolition activities while fillers can be made from a variety of waste streams, such as primary sludge, wood waste, sawdust, agricultural residues, mineral wool, and plasterboard, among others. Generally, the cumulative share of the matrix and filler is above 90% of the composites, thus significantly contributing to a potential reduction in environmental impacts, including climate change. The climate change impacts of waste-derived composites (WDC) can be best assessed using the carbon footprint (CF) methodology. The CF is a specific node of life cycle assessment (LCA) focusing on climate change impacts. The method accounts for the emissions and removal of greenhouse gases during all life-cycle stages of composites or parts thereof.